CISON Holds 2nd Int’l Conference in Delta, Commends Gov. Oborevwori’s Statistician-friendly Disposition

Governor Sheriff Oborevwori has been commended for appreciating the imperative of a robust and integrated national data ecosystem in the contemporary economic growth driven by knowledge, information and technology.

The President, Chartered Institute of Statisticians of Nigeria, (CISON), Dr. Godday Ebuh, gave the commendation in his remarks at the 2nd International Conference of the Institute hosted by Delta State.

Dr. Ebuh noted that data had become the world’s new crude oil, which Nigeria must join in its exploration, and praised the Government of Delta State for not only being statistician-friendly, but also exemplary in allowing data to drive development in the state.

CISON President called for integrity, integration and collaboration amongst professional Statisticians, stressing the need for Nigeria to harness big data to be able to make informed policy decisions and drive national development, while describing the theme of the conference as both timely and visionary.

Declaring the conference open, Governor Sheriff Oborevwori emphasized the critical role of data in shaping Nigeria’s development trajectory, highlighting the importance of a robust and integrated national data ecosystem in driving economic growth and development.

The Governor, who was represented by the Secretary to the State Government (SSG), Dr. Kingsley Emu, said the theme of the conference, “Big Data and Analytics in Nigeria: Developing a National Data Ecosystem for Enhanced National Prosperity”, was apt, timely and forward-looking.

He congratulated the Institute for sustaining the conference which, he remarked, was an important platform for dialogue on the role of data and analytics in shaping Nigerians development trajectory, emphasizing that data-driven decision-making was essential to policymakers and stakeholders.

Oborevwori said his administration relied on data for planning and development, and had always supported the Central Office of Research and Statistics with funds to undertake and publish several statistical surveys crucial to informed policy decisions and resource allocation.

The Governor emphasized that the true promise of big data lied not in the sheer volume of numbers collected, but in the capacity to transform the numbers to actionable knowledge that could drive policy, shapes, and changes, while urging statisticians to embrace innovative techniques and address the challenges of data governance and privacy in an increasingly digital world.

In his goodwill message, Minister of Education, Dr. Olatunji Alausa, represented by Mr. Matthew Nganjiozo, described “Big Data Analytics” as a game-changer for education, and a transformative tool to unlock prosperity.

He said in the face of economic challenges and global uncertainties, harnessing statistical methodologies could inform policies, optimize resource allocation, and personalize learning experiences.

Also speaking, the State Commissioner for Economic Planning, Mr. Sunny Ekedayan, praised the Chartered Institute of Statisticians of Nigeria for choosing Delta State as host of its 2nd Annual International Conference, describing the gathering as a testament to the growing importance of data in shaping the destiny of nations and emphasizing the significance of data in present day knowledge-driven world.

Others who spoke included the Statistician-General of the Federation and Chief Executive Officer of the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS), Prince Adeyemi Adeniran, and the Deputy Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria, Economic Policy, who was represented by the Director of Statistics, Dr. Usman Okpanachi.

The highlight of the event was the presentation of a plague to the Governor, followed by his decoration with CISON paraphernalia, in recognition of his support for the Chartered Institute of Statisticians of Nigeria and statistics.